U.S. patent number 6,328,583 [Application Number 09/729,242] was granted by the patent office on 2001-12-11 for re-connectable pipeline connection for direct heating system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Nexans. Invention is credited to Petter Thomas Holen, Jan Erik Karlsen, Bjorn Willy Ness.
United States Patent |
6,328,583 |
Ness , et al. |
December 11, 2001 |
Re-connectable pipeline connection for direct heating system
Abstract
A cable connector for a direct heating cable system for a
pipeline (4) where a direct heating cable is connected to the
pipeline at two remote points, the cable (3) comprising a cone (1)
connected to the end, the cone (1) comprising means for connecting
releasably a bolt (9) coaxially to the cone (1), a pulling wire (7)
being secured to the bolt (9) adapted to pull the cone (1) and the
cable (3) into a connector (2) secured to the pipeline and having
an inner shape corresponding with the outer shape of the cone (1),
the connector (2) being adapted to lock the cone (1) to the
connector (2) and release the pulling wire (7) from the cone
(1).
Inventors: |
Ness; Bjorn Willy (Oslo,
NO), Holen; Petter Thomas (Klofta, NO),
Karlsen; Jan Erik (Kolbotn, NO) |
Assignee: |
Nexans (Paris,
FR)
|
Family
ID: |
19904166 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/729,242 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 28, 1999 [NO] |
|
|
99/6522 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/193; 439/766;
439/805 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/207 (20130101); H01R 13/523 (20130101); H01R
24/66 (20130101); F16L 53/37 (20180101); H05B
3/06 (20130101); H05B 3/56 (20130101); H05B
2214/03 (20130101); H01R 2101/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
53/00 (20060101); H05B 3/06 (20060101); H05B
3/54 (20060101); H05B 3/56 (20060101); H01R
4/50 (20060101); H01R 004/60 (); H01R 004/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/193,766,805,192,194,195 ;219/212,213 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sircus; Brian
Assistant Examiner: Prasad; Chandrika
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cable connector for a direct heating cable system for a
pipeline (4) where a direct heating cable is connected to the
pipeline at two remote points by means of connectors (2) being
connected with the pipeline (4), each of said connectors including
a conical female chamber for receiving a cone (1) connected to the
ends of the cable (3), wherein each connector (2) is prewelded to
the pipeline (4), and wherein each cone (1) comprises a bolt (9)
extending coaxially as a prolongation from the cone (1), the
connector (2) being provided, at it's remote end, with a locking
plate (5) against which a nut (6) on the bolt (9) can be forced
thereby tightening the cone (1) in the female chamber of the
connector (2) and securing the contact.
2. Connector according to claim 1, wherein said connectors are
displaced along the circumference of the pipeline (4).
Description
The present invention is related to a cable connector for a direct
heating cable system for a pipeline.
It is well known to provide heating cable systems for transfer of
electrical power to production pipelines lying on the seabed to
prevent hydrate formation of the fluid transported in the pipe. The
functioning of such a direct heating system very much is depending
on a proper connection between the heating cable and the production
pipeline.
Furthermore, the functioning of such a heating system is depending
on several parameters such as a low impedance connection at both
ends of the heating cable, thereby to prevent corrosion and local
heating spots. Furthermore such a connection must have the ability
to withstand mechanical forces applied during installation of the
pipeline as well as later movement due to thermal cycles, even in
cases where the connection is pinched between the pipeline and the
seabed. In case the cable is damaged, the connection has to be
releasable without the need to move the pipeline as such and
providing good possibilities for reinstalling a new heating
cable.
The heating cable connection according to the present invention
fulfils all the previous mentioned requirements, being defined by
the features stated in the claims.
FIG. 1 of the drawing discloses schematically the repair installing
procedure for a heating cable,
FIG. 2 discloses also schematically, the circuit for a heating
cable on a pipeline,
FIG. 3 discloses a detail in FIG. 1, namely the connection between
the heating cable connector and a pulling wire,
FIG. 4 discloses, also schematically an angle wheel for the pulling
wire,
FIG. 5 discloses the connection between the pulling wire and the
heating cable connector,
FIG. 6 discloses schematically and partly in a longitudinal section
the heating cable connected with the pipeline,
FIG. 7 discloses a cross-section of the pipeline with the heating
cable as disclosed in FIG. 6, and
FIG. 8 discloses a front view from the left in FIG. 6, of the
heating cable connection.
A heating cable 3 is provided with a cone 1 at each end, adapted to
fit into a conical female chamber 12 of a connector 2 which is
prewelded to a pipeline 4. The connection device is provided with a
locking plate 5 and a nut 6 for tightening the cone 1 into the
connector 2.
The pipeline 4 is equipped with preferably three equal steel
connectors displaced 120.degree. offset to each other, thereby
being adapted for receiving heating cables in 3 positions. This is
to ensure that at least one connection device is available from the
upper portion of the pipe.
The truncated shape of the cone 1 as well as the connector 2 ensure
good connection between the two as a high pressure may be exposed
by the nut 6 and the corresponding bolt.
The locking plate 5 preferably is a hinged plate for easy locking
of the termination before tightening the nut 6 against the locking
plate 5.
For connection of a heating cable 3 to connection with the
connector 2, a laying vessel and a remote-operated vessel (ROV) is
used, the laying vessel thereby pulling the connector in place with
a pulling wire 7 running through the steel cone and a tuning wheel
8 up to the lying vessel. The ROV is monitoring the installation
operation and later will cut away the pulling wire 7 after having
tightened the nut 6 against the locking plate 5 and the connector
2, thereby forcing the cone 1 against the connector 2 by means of
the bolt 9 connected to the inner of the cone 1.
The cross section electrical current in the connection has to be
carefully controlled throughout the current path in the connection.
The conductivity in the crossover between copper and steel equals
the conductivity of the cable conductor as such, resulting in no
local heating. The cross-section of the welds connecting the steel
connectors 2 to the pipeline 4 equals the cross-section of the
pipeline as such. The temperature in the welds thereby will be
similar to the temperature in the pipeline.
The connection according to the present invention provides
mechanical properties at least equal to the mechanical properties
of the cable. All steel parts and welds will be made of materials
compatible with the material used in the steel pipeline. As
disclosed in FIG. 2, anodes 10 of aluminium or zinc will be applied
to protect the connection from corrosion. Furthermore, dummy plugs
protect the surface of spare connection points until they are
needed.
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